In response to growing rail fares, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, challenged the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales on the increasing rail fare and the impact that the reduction of bus fares will have on rail patronage.
In December 2023, the Welsh Government told the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee that the uplift received was not enough and that farebox revenue needed to increase. However, for some passengers, as highlighted by a quote from a Transport for Wales passenger, and numerous constituents of Aberconwy, rail fares are already seen as being expensive.
With a pilot to reduce the cost of bus travel for people aged 16 to 21 being introduced, it is important that there is a thorough assessment and consideration of the impact that this, along with the increased rail fare costs will have on rail patronage.
Commenting on the increase of rail fares Janet said:
“For many rail users, the cost of rail fares is already seen as expensive. With train tickets to get from Llandudno Junction to Cardiff going from £110 to £117, it is appalling that it remains cheaper for residents of North Wales to fly from Manchester Airport to many destinations across Europe than to go by train to Cardiff.
“It is known and accepted that affordable fares are the key to increasing rail passenger numbers and will decrease the need for a public subsidy.
“With this in mind, and the introduction of a pilot that will reduce bus fares for people aged 16 to 21, it is important that the Welsh Government considers the impacts that this will have on rail patronage. It is a genuine possibility that there will now be an increase in bus usage, and a reduction in rail patronage, which in turn could lead to the cost of train tickets having to be increased again”.
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Mewn ymateb i brisiau tocynnau trên cynyddol, fe wnaeth Janet Finch-Saunders AS, Gweinidog Cysgodol y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig dros Newid Hinsawdd, herio Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru am brisiau uwch tocynnau trên ac effaith gostwng pris tocynnau bws ar nawdd i’r rheilffyrdd.
Ym mis Rhagfyr 2023, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru wrth y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith nad oedd y codiad a dderbyniwyd yn ddigon a bod angen i'r refeniw tocynnau gynyddu. Ond i rai teithwyr, fel yr amlygwyd gan ddyfyniad gan deithiwr Trafnidiaeth Cymru, a llawer o etholwyr Aberconwy, mae prisiau tocynnau trên eisoes yn cael eu hystyried yn ddrud.
Gyda chynllun peilot i leihau cost teithio ar fysiau i bobl 16 i 21 oed yn cael ei gyflwyno, mae'n bwysig bod asesiad trylwyr ac ystyriaeth o'r effaith y bydd hyn, ynghyd â chostau prisiau tocynnau trên cynyddol, yn ei chael ar nawdd i’r rheilffyrdd.
Dywedodd Janet:
“I lawer o ddefnyddwyr rheilffyrdd, mae cost tocynnau trên eisoes yn andros o ddrud. Gyda thocynnau trên o Gyffordd Llandudno i Gaerdydd yn codi o £110 i £117, mae'n warthus ei bod hi'n parhau'n rhatach i drigolion y Gogledd hedfan o Faes Awyr Manceinion i gyrchfannau ledled Ewrop na dal trên i Gaerdydd.
“Mae pawb yn derbyn mai prisiau fforddiadwy yw'r allwedd i gynyddu nifer y teithwyr ar y trenau a bydd hynny’n lleihau'r angen am gymhorthdal cyhoeddus.
“Gyda hyn mewn golwg, a chyflwyniad cynllun peilot a fydd yn lleihau prisiau tocynnau bws i bobl 16 i 21 oed, mae'n bwysig bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried effeithiau hyn ar nawdd i’r rheilffyrdd. Mae posibilrwydd go iawn y bydd mwy a mwy yn defnyddio'r bysiau rŵan, a gallai hyn yn ei dro arwain at orfod cynyddu prisiau tocynnau trên unwaith eto”.
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
